Utensil handle



Sept, 2, 1941. R. w. HAILEY 2,254,571

UTENS IL HANDLE Filed Oct. 28, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 2, 1941. w L Y I 2,254,571

1 UTENSIL HANDLE Filed Oct. 28, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 vZ 8T iatented Sept. 2, 1 94-11 2,254,5"11 UTENSIL HANDLE Robert W. Hailey, Bucyrus, Ohio Application October 28, 1939, Serial No. 301,845

2 Claims.

This invention pertains to cooking utensils, and more particularly to handles therefor, and means for mounting protective and ornamental sheaths thereon.

It is quite customary to sheath cooking utensil handles with material having low heat conductivity characteristics. Sheaths of molded plastics, such as phenolic condensation or synthetic resinous materials, which not only do not absorb heat to any great degree, but are water and grease resistant, as well as resistant to alkalis and acids are quite desirable. However, such materials have a low factor of expansion and contraction, whereas the metallic core or handle shaft upon which they are mounted, being usually of aluminum, is subject to a relatively great degree of expansion. If the sheaths are made to initially fit closely upon the handle shafts, the differential expansion and contraction of the handle shaft and sheath causes breakage of the latter. If initially fitted to permit relative expansion, the handle sheaths are loose and rattle when the vessel is cold. Another difiiculty is that of securely the sheath tight at all times without undue strain. a The sheath is fixedly secured by an inaccessible detent which automatically interlocks the sheath in its final position of adjustment upon the core or handle shaft.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction as well as the means and mode of assembly of handle sheaths upon cooking utensils, whereby they may not only be economically manufactured and assembled, but will be eficient in use, automatic in action, compensatory for differential expansion and contraction, having relatively few parts, and unlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention is to eliminate looseness and rattle of handle sheaths upon their cores or handle shafts.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for automatically compensating for unequal expansion and contraction of handle shafts and sheaths thereon to prevent breakage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a resilient shim for insertion within handle sheaths to prevent play and rattle.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for securely attaching handle sheaths to the handle core or shaft without exposed metallic parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a concealed fastening device for utensil handle sheaths.

A further object of the invention is to provide a normally inaccessible detent for automatically looking a handle sheath in its adjusted position upon a core or shaft.

A further object of the invention is to provide sheathed handles for cooking utensils and the like, having the advantageous structural features and inherent meritorious characteristics herein mentioned.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein is shown the preferred but obviously not necessarily the only forms of embodiment of the invention,

Figs. 1 and 2 are perspective views of two types of cooking utensils, to wit, a cooker vessel and a skillet, in each of which the present invention is embodied.

Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views of fragmentary portions of the respective utensils illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, showing their integral handle shafts or cores before being enclosed in their corresponding sheaths.

Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views of the sheath locking detents detached from the han- .dles.

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the assembled handle, showing the locking detent in engaged relation.

Fig. 8 is a plan view illustrating the relation of the several parts before assembly.

Fig. 9 is a sectional plan view of the same parts after assembly.

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional View.

Fig. 11 is a similar view illustrating a modification.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the modified spring detent shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a sectional View of the handle sheath for association with the double detent shown in Figs. 11 and 12.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, I indicates the cooking utensil, of which 2 is an integral core or handle shaft, which in the case of the vessel shown in Fig. l is a short relatively wide ear, while in that of the skillet is long and narrow.

The handle sheath 3, which is preferably although not necessarily of molded plastic material, may be of any desired ornamental shape or design. The sheath 3 is of substantially tubular form closed at its outer end and is telescopically engageable on the handle core. The bore or recess of the sheath 3 is of approximately the shape of the handle core or shaft 2, but of somewhat larger dimensions than the core to permit relative expansion of the latter. v adapted to slide freely over the core or shaft 2, whatever its size or shape may be. To prevent undue looseness or rattle of the sheath upon the core or handle shaft 2, there is disposed marginally thereabout, or inserted in the recess of the sheath 3 before interengagement with the core, a U-shaped shim of resilient material, the arms 4 of which are crimped or corrugated. The corrugated arms 4 of the shim are maintained under compression between the core 2 and the interior of the recess of the sheath, and yield under expansive pressure of the core, without, however, subjecting the sheath to bursting strain. The corrugated shim arms are transversely interconnected for convenience in assembly. The interposed shim possesses sufiicient give and take to compensate for differential expansion and contraction of the core and sheath, and to keep the sheath amply tight at all times to prevent rattle or looseness, without, however, subjecting it to breaking strain.

To enable fixed engagement'of the sheath upon the core 2 without the use of exposed metallic fastening means, the core or handle shaft 2 is provided with a shoulder or abutment 5. teriorly of its recess, the sheath 3 is also provided with a shoulder or abutment 6 so disposed as to be in relatively spaced relation with the core shoulder when the parts are assembled. A spring detent 'l of sheet material bent slightly to arcuate form is interposed between the core and sheath, with one end thereof in engagement with the abutment shoulder of one of the members as the sheath is slidingly adjusted upon the core. adjustment, the opposite end of the detent springs into locking engagement with the shoulder of the opposing member.

To facilitate the simultaneous engagement of the detent spring with the utensil handle core and with the sheath, the extremities of the detent spring are preferably bent as at 8 or 8 substantially at right angles. The core or handle shaft 2 is preferably provided with a kerf or narrow slot 9 contiguous to the shoulder or abutment 5, as shown in Fig. 4, to receive one bent end of the spring. As a variation of this construction, the core 2 of the vessel, as shown in Fig. 3, has a slot [0 which may extend partially through or entirely through the core 2. In the latter event, the detent spring 7' may be double and be inserted through the slot ID for extension both above and below the handlecore 2, as is shown in Fig. 11. In such construction, the sheath is provided with shoulders or abutments on oppo- Such handle sheath 3 is When the sheath reaches the limit of its site sides of the recess, with which the respective halves of the double detent may engage simultaneously.

The crimped or corrugated shim having been positioned about the core 2 and the detent being positioned thereon, the sheath 3 is slidingly adjusted longitudinally to enclose the core and with it the shim and spring detent. The corrugations of the shim are subjected to compressive strain and the detent is likewise tensioned by the adjustment of the handle sheath until the shoulder of the latter advances beyond the end of the detent spring, which by its reaction automatically engages therewith. When once so engaged, the detent cannot be disengaged nor the handle sheath detached. Being held under tension the spring detent also serves somewhat as does the corrugated shim to take up play and prevent rattle.

When s0 assembled, there is no visible attachment means to detract from the finished appearance, of the handle and no exposed metallic part to conduct heat. Obviously, the spring detent may be initially mounted on either the core or within the sheath, and by their relative adjustment brought into interlocking relation with the other member.

Ordinarily the life of a vessel is the life of the handle. The present construction affords a bandle which is permanent. The core or shaft being formed integral with the vessel, it cannot become loose or detached. Furthermore, being of polygonal cross section, the sheath cannot turn thereon. Being of heat, water and grease resistant character and protected against breakage due to expansion of the core, the handle sheath may be reasonably expected to last as long as the ves- Sel.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute, the

invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of severalmodes of putting the invention into effect, and'the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In a vessel of the type wherein a handle shaft of expansible and contractible material projects therefrom, a tubular handle sheath having a factor of expansion and contraction less than the handle shaft upon which it is slidingly engageable, the bore of which is of greater size than the handle shaft, a corrugated shim of spring material inserted within the bore of the sheath beside the handle shaft which by its inherent resiliency compensates for differences of expansion and contraction of the handle shaft and sheath, and a spring detent also interposed between the shaft and sheath within the bore thereofthe size of which is sufficient to permit flexing movement of the spring detent and relafiller interposed between the core and sheath, said filler being yieldable to compensate for expansion and contraction of the core, and detent means enclosed within the sheath automatically interlocking the sheath and core in adjusted relation.

ROBERT W. HAILEY. 

